The Hindu population is on target in Bangladesh after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024. Temples are under attack. Hindu leaders are receiving threats. ISKCON-affiliated religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das has been in police custody since November 25 on charges of treason. Wool
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After Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh, Dainik Global News Daily did coverage from Dhaka. During this time we met people associated with the Hindu community and ISKCON. When we contacted them to know about the current situation in Bangladesh, neither the call was received nor the message was responded to.
After a lot of efforts, we talked to Debashish, a resident of Chattogram, Bangladesh. Debashish is a changed name because he does not want to reveal his real name and identity due to danger. Debashish is a Central Committee member of the Chattogram branch of ISKCON Bangladesh and has been working with Chinmoy Krishna Das.
'It is not safe even in Hindu homes, you never know who will attack when' On the question of why Hindus are avoiding talking to the media, Debashish says, 'If we talk to the Indian media and give any news, the police catch us. You write about me, but do not reveal my name and identity. We are living in fear here. We don't know who will attack when. Earlier we were safe at home, now I have left the house and am living in the temple.
'I have heard from my elders about the period of Pakistan after 1947. Even then Hindus were not as scared as the atmosphere of fear is now. The situation in today's Bangladesh is worse for Hindus than the situation in East Pakistan.
Debashish further says, 'Even before August 5, Hindus used to face problems in Bangladesh, but it was not like now. Now even breathing is becoming difficult.
'ISKCON's bank accounts seized, not even able to collect Prasad' Debashish says, 'Police are arresting the followers of ISKCON and Chinmoy Krishna. This is the reason why after the arrest of Chinmay Krishna Das, we have started living in the temple, so that if the police comes, we all can be together. If he arrests us, everyone will come to know.
'Being together in the temple gives courage, but the Bangladesh government is now creating trouble for the temple too. The government has seized the bank accounts related to ISKCON temple. The situation is such that even Thakur ji's service and Prasad are facing problems in the temple. It is beyond comprehension what the government wants to do with Hindus.
Threat to lawyers – If Chinmay Prabhu's case is taken up, they will not be allowed to enter the court. Debashish says, 'Chinmoy Prabhu has been accused of treason. Hearing is going on in the court. We were looking for a lawyer for Chinmay Prabhu after his arrest. Muslim lawyers united in the court and created such an environment that it became difficult for us to get lawyers. They threatened that they would not allow the Hindu lawyer to enter the court.
'From police to courts are uniting against Hindus. An atmosphere of hatred is being created everywhere.
We have appointed a Hindu lawyer to represent Chinmoy Prabhu, but the mob in Bangladesh is so dominant that he is not able to go to the court. His life is in danger.
The day after we talked to Debashish, the next morning news came that a mob had entered the house of Chinmoy Prabhu's lawyer Raman Roy and attacked him. Roy has been admitted to the hospital, where his condition is critical.
It is dangerous to go out wearing saffron and sandalwood on the forehead. Debashish says, 'The situation is so bad that it is becoming difficult for us to even go out. We cannot roam around in the open wearing our religious identity. We have advised our people to avoid going out wearing sandalwood and saffron clothes on their forehead. Don't even go out alone.
'However, it is not that all Muslims are bad, there are some good people also. However, they are not talking to us now. Whoever is talking to us is also in danger to his life. Bad people are openly on the streets against Hindus. They neither fear the police nor the administration.
'The new government is not able to stop such people from creating havoc, but the police is also threatening us. All this is happening because of the arrest of Chinmoy Prabhu.
Due to anti-India protests in Dhaka, army has been deployed outside the Indian Embassy. Anyone is being allowed inside only after thorough investigation.
Indian government should help, issue visa for us Debashish says, 'We are facing so much trouble that no immediate solution is visible right now. We are living in the temple now, but don't know how long this will continue. We are protesting outside the office of the Indian High Commission. Our demand is that the Government of India should help us. I also want to go to India, but then I think about my family and how can I leave them.
'Hindus living in Bangladesh love India and the people of Bengal. Our demand is that India should help in solving our problems. Raised the issue of atrocities on Hindus. We want visa to India, but the government is not issuing visa. Visas should be issued for those who are facing more problems here.
We asked Debashish what do you think about the interim government of Bangladesh? He said- 'There is nothing to say about the government. If all this is happening while the government is present, then what is the use of its existence? The government of Bangladesh has been captured by clerics and jihadis.
The people seen in the photo are members of Islami Andolan Bangladesh. The organization demonstrated in Dhaka on 3 December in protest against the attack on the Bangladeshi mission in Agartala, the capital of Tripura.
'Around 1000 attacks on Hindus, police raiding ISKCON temples' Pradeep Chanda, who lives in Dhaka, is a social worker. He is associated with Human Rights Congress for Minority and Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mahajot Sanstha. Pradeep Chanda keeps visiting rural areas of Bangladesh.
Pradeep says that the current situation in Bangladesh is very bad. Radical Muslims want to ban ISKCON. Two cases have also been filed in Chattogram. Bangladeshi police are raiding ISKCON temples. The situation is becoming very serious. Its epicenter is Chattogram.
'We lived under the Hasina government for 16 years, and also saw her overthrow in early August. The condition of Hindus was not very good even in Sheikh Hasina's government. The situation has become worse since the coming of the new government. There have been about 1000 attacks on Hindus and temples. India supported Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Hasina took advantage of it.
'The situation is not bad only for Bangladeshi Hindus. What is happening in Bangladesh is the result of anti India sentiment. There is hatred against India among the people of Bangladesh. The attitude of most of the advisors of the present government is anti-Indian. Some people of the present government take a stand against ISKCON. They do not believe in secularism.
Pradeep says, 'Hindus working in government jobs are facing a lot of problems. It is no longer easy for them to work. Anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiments are increasing here every day.
'Last Saturday I went to the market near my house. By the way I dress it becomes clear that I am a Hindu. I felt that people in the market had recognized me. They were coming towards me in the form of a crowd. I immediately left from there. They can attack us any time. We are living under the shadow of fear. The condition is such that we are not able to walk outside the house with our heads raised.
'Bangladeshi Hindus do not trust the government, it is not doing anything' Bangladeshi journalist Amanur Rahman has been reporting on minority issues for the last 15 years. Amanur says, 'It is becoming difficult to get accurate information about what is happening in Bangladesh. All the information is one-sided.
'The situation is such that it is becoming difficult to get to the bottom of the facts. The government of Bangladesh is in denial mode regarding the atrocities on minorities. The government has been saying since August 5 that attacks against minorities are not happening.
'Hindu Minorities say that the government should not close its eyes to the atrocities being committed on them. Till now the government has not held any discussion with Hindus. This creates a feeling of distrust for the government.
Amanur Rahman says, 'I have talked to many Hindu leaders recently. He says that nothing can be said as to what will happen next. No positive attitude towards Hindus has been seen from the present government. On the contrary, cases are being registered against Hindu leaders and they are being arrested.
Opposition leader said- India did not create Bangladesh, divided Pakistan Since Sheikh Hasina left power, leaders of the largest opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, have been attacking India. Bangladesh Nationalist Party belongs to former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. During his government there were not good relations between Bangladesh and India.
Senior party leader and former mayor of Dhaka, Mirza Abbas said that India wants to create two Hindu countries. They want to capture Chattogram. India should remember that we have a small army, but in 1971 we fought without training.
Mirza Abbas further said that Rahul Gandhi had said that India liberated Bangladesh. India did not create Bangladesh, we liberated Bangladesh. India divided Pakistan and did it in its own interest, not for us.
Anti-India protest in Dhaka University On Monday, December 2, Hindu Sangharsh Samiti had taken out a rally in Agartala, the capital of Tripura, in protest against the arrest of Chinmay Prabhu. Meanwhile, more than 50 protesters entered the campus of Bangladeshi Assistant High Commission and vandalized it. 7 people have been arrested in this case.
Hundreds of students raised slogans against India in the campus of Dhaka University on Monday night in protest against the Agartala incident. According to Bangladesh's English newspaper The Daily Star, the protesting students are associated with the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement and Bangladesh Student Rights Council.
Bangladesh Student Rights Council President Bin Yamin Mulla has appealed to all political parties to unite against India.
When Dainik Global News Daily reached Dhaka for coverage after the violent protests in August, Hindus had also narrated their ordeal. Read this report
1. Bangladeshi Hindus said – Fundamentalists are asking for money, gold, girls from us
2. Roads to temples closed in Dhaka, Army deployed, Hindus said – can't sleep due to fear
Graphics Source: NavJivanIndia | VaskarAssets | NavBharatTimes
